The Sky This Week from November 13 to 20: The Leonids peak

Sky Calendar for November

The period between November 13 and 20 offers notable skywatching opportunities for astronomy enthusiasts. This week's sky calendar highlights events ranging from the Moon's orbital progression to deep-sky object visibility.

The Moon's Apogee and Observing M33

On Friday, November 20, at 12:50 P.M. EST, the Moon reaches apogee, the farthest point from Earth in its orbit. At that exact time, our natural satellite will be located 252,040 miles (405,619 kilometers) from Earth.

Another prime target for observers is M33, the Pinwheel Galaxy in the constellation Triangulum. By 8 P.M. local time, this lovely spiral galaxy is already 60° high in the eastern sky. Glowing at 6th magnitude, it provides a compelling view for evening skywatchers.

Observational Significance

While the Moon reaching apogee represents a routine orbital milestone, targets like M33 offer excellent opportunities for deep-sky observation. Stargazers can use these specific times and locations to track both our satellite and distant spiral galaxies.